The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-14
A REAL MONOPOLY.


The Aldermen and Council are very prop
erly looking out for the interest of the plain
people just now in the natural-gas business.
They want to consider this matter very fully
and very freely before they will pass any ordi-
nance that will allow any company, foreign or
domestic, to pipe the city for gas as fuel.
The Journal, now that the city authorities
have a spasm of public virtue, desires to call
the attention of the city lawmakers to the
water-works company. A few weeks ago
that company submitted to the City Council
and Aldermen what it, through its officers,
said was its .'ultimatum." The water COM
pany is asking new contract, or an extern
sion of contract, for period of years The
water company gets its supply from White
river and Fall creek, that run around three
sides of the city, and through the city, or
from wells dug in the city, or from all
three together. The water company has not
mile of iron pipe for supply purposes out
side the city limits; and yet the water com
pany claims, and for that matter
has the exclusive privilege of, the
streets and alleys for furnishing the
citizens and manufacturing companies with
water for all purposes The naturalg gas COM
panies have sought no such exclusive privi-
lege; and yet so far known or can be est;-
mated, these must get their gas from more
than twenty miles away and from an uncer-
tain and unknowable supply source. White
fy and EaI1 eroaly ha oa1xy furni eli od
ter so far as even the News knows, and it
knows everything, from the time of the flood.
Ii natural gas should be admitted to the city
under an open ordinance, one that will admit
any and every company that will come under
its terms, and terms should be liberal, then the
company bringing natural gas has to compete
with coal, coke and wood, the Indianapolis
Gas-light and Coke Company and every body
else. There could not be any monopoly or
great danger of extortion, because the manu-
facturer or citizen can do as he pleases-get gas
or heat from any company, from coal, wood
or coke; but with the water-works
company, and, for that matter, the street
railway company there is no competition.
The citizen may dig well; but if he is a
renter and has to move from time to time, he
must get his water from the water company
or keep on digging wells every time he moves;
and when he has digged his well he gets
very poor, possibly unhealthy and dangerous
quality of water, water that may be as dead
ly in it's use as would be Paris green or
Trough on Rats" How much better the
water-works water is can only be ascertained
by analyses made from time to time Some
times it may be good, sometimes known to be
very bad. Suckers and lizards that are forced
through the water pipes may be good eating
but are not good for drinking purposes.
But, coming back to the original PROPOSE
ton: the water works company demands $50
each per annum for fre-plugs for city protec-
ton. to be paid by the city. Yet
the ordinance for natural gas demands that the
gas company supply the fire department, city
buildings and school-houses with fuel, free
In Kol1omo the water works company supplies
the city fire plugs at 500 each at Crawfords-
vile the charge is not over $40; at the city of
Racine, Wis, where they use the most ex-
pensive system of water supply, viz: from a
crib out in the lake, the rate charged is $35
per annum, and that for only 500 plugs, COW
ering about as much territory as this city
covers. If the city fathers are sincere in
their purpose to watch the interest Of the
citizens and taxpayers Of Indianapolis they
will give attention to the water works COM
pany before entering into new contract.
The water-works company is monopoly.